Longitudinal analysis of invariant natural killer T cell activation reveals a cMAF-associated transcriptional state of NKT10 cells

Innate T cells, including CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, are characterized by their rapid activation in response to nonpeptide antigens, such as lipids. While the transcriptional profiles of naive, effector and memory adaptive T cells have been well studied, less is known about transcriptional regulation of different iNKT cell activation states. Here, using single cell RNA-sequencing, we performed longitudinal profiling of activated iNKT cells, generating a transcriptomic atlas of iNKT cell activation states. We found that transcriptional signatures of activation are highly conserved among heterogeneous iNKT cell populations, including NKT1, NKT2 and NKT17 subsets, and human iNKT cells. Strikingly, we found that regulatory iNKT cells, such as adipose iNKT cells, undergo blunted activation, and display constitutive enrichment of memory-like cMAF+ and KLRG1+ populations. Moreover, we identify a conserved cMAF-associated transcriptional network among NKT10 cells, providing novel insights into the biology of regulatory and antigen experienced iNKT cells.

Regulation and Functions of Protumoral Unconventional T Cells in Solid Tumors

The vast majority of studies on T cell biology in tumor immunity have focused on peptide-reactive conventional T cells that are restricted to polymorphic major histocompatibility complex molecules. However, emerging evidence indicated that unconventional T cells, including γδ T cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are also involved in tumor immunity. Unconventional T cells span the innate–adaptive continuum and possess the unique ability to rapidly react to nonpeptide antigens via their conserved T cell receptors (TCRs) and/or to activating cytokines to orchestrate many aspects of the immune response. Since unconventional T cell lineages comprise discrete functional subsets, they can mediate both anti- and protumoral activities. Here, we review the current understanding of the functions and regulatory mechanisms of protumoral unconventional T cell subsets in the tumor environment. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of these deleterious subsets in solid cancers and why further feasibility studies are warranted.

Exogenous Control of the Expression of Group I CD1 Molecules Competent for Presentation of Microbial Nonpeptide Antigens to Human T Lymphocytes

Group I CD1 (CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c) glycoproteins expressed on immature and mature dendritic cells present nonpeptide antigens (i.e., lipid or glycolipid molecules mainly of microbial origin) to T cells. Cytotoxic CD1-restricted T lymphocytes recognizing mycobacterial lipid antigens were found in tuberculosis patients. However, thanks to a complex interplay betweenmycobacteriaand CD1 system,M. tuberculosispossesses a successful tactic based, at least in part, on CD1 downregulation to evade CD1-dependent immunity. On the ground of these findings, it is reasonable to hypothesize that modulation of CD1 protein expression by chemical, biological, or infectious agents could influence host's immune reactivity againstM. tuberculosis-associated lipids, possibly affecting antitubercular resistance. This scenario prompted us to perform a detailed analysis of the literature concerning the effect of external agents on Group I CD1 expression in order to obtain valuable information on the possible strategies to be adopted for driving properly CD1-dependent immune functions in human pathology and in particular, in human tuberculosis.

Quantitative and Functional Alterations of the Gamma Delta T-Cell Subset within Follicular Lymphoma Microenvironment.

T cells carrying a γδ TCR account for less than 5% of CD3pos T cells in healthy individuals but are key effectors of innate immunity through the recognition of some unprocessed nonpeptide antigens of both self and foreign origin. Whereas the Vδ2 subpopulation represents more than 70% of peripheral blood γδ T cells, the Vδ1 subset is mainly located in the mucosal tissue. Increasing evidence suggest that γδ T cells have potent antitumor activity and are implicated in the defense against some haematological and epithelial malignancies. Moreover, Vδ2 T cells constitute an attractive immunotherapy strategy since they could be expanded and activated both in vivo and in vitro using synthetic phosphoantigens and aminobiphosphonates. Such strategies are currently tested in preliminary clinical trials, notably in follicular lymphoma (FL). However, an exhaustive phenotypic and functional characterisation of γδ T cells in this disease, including tumor infiltration, is still lacking. We first explored the composition of FL microenvironment using a multicolour flow cytometry analysis. We observed a significant decrease in the percentage of myeloid (LinnegCD11cposHLADRpos) and plasmacytoid (LinnegCD123posHLADRpos) dendritic cells (P = .0011 and P < .0001, respectively) in FL compared to normal secondary lymphoid organs. In addition, among CD3pos T cells, the proportion of follicular helper T cells (CD4posCXCR5posICOShi) was increased (P = .001) whereas regulatory T-cell (CD4posCD25posfoxp3pos) frequency was not altered. When considering the γδ T-cell compartment, we first highlighted a reduction of the Vδ2 subset in normal tonsils (Vδ2 = 23.48 ± 0.15% of γδ T cells, n = 11) when compared with peripheral blood. Remaining non-δ2 γδT cells were predominantly δ1 T cells. More importantly, infiltrating γδ T cells were significantly decreased in lymph node biopsies from FL patients (mean = 0.48 ± 0.4% of CD3pos T cells; n = 27) when compared both to normal tonsils (mean = 2.49 ± 1.6% of CD3pos T cells; n = 33) (P < .0001) and reactive lymph nodes (mean = 2.64 ± 2.6% of CD3pos T cells; n = 9) (P = .0009). This reduction affected both the Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-cell subsets. The functionality of γδ T cells was then assessed by the measurement of cell expansion and production of IFN-γ upon stimulation with the isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) phosphoantigen. Amplification rate in vitro reached 14.6 ± 4.6 fold in tonsils (n = 10) but only 4.36 ± 1.9 fold in FL samples (n = 7) (P < .002) after 5 days of culture in the presence of IPP + IL-2 + IL-15. When focusing on the δ2 subset, this difference was further increased with a 40-fold amplification in tonsil and a 3-fold amplification in FL samples (P = .0004). Evaluation of IFN-γ production using ELISPOT assay revealed a high heterogeneity among tumor samples since 1 to 40% of δ2 T cells were able to respond to IPP stimulation (n = 7). Preliminary data argued for an association between the quantity and the functionality of γδ T cells in FL tumors. In conclusion, we reported an alteration of γδ T cell frequency and functionality within FL tumor niche. The next purpose will be to correlate these in vitro defects with in vivo clinical responses to immunotherapy strategies targeting γδ T cells.

Alkylamines cause Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation and proliferation by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway

Three general classes of small, nonpeptide “antigens” activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells: pyrophosphomonoesters, such as isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), and alkylamines. However, we have shown recently that N-BPs indirectly activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells as a consequence of inhibition of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (a key enzyme of the mevalonate pathway) and the intracellular accumulation of IPP. We now show that alkylamines activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells by the same mechanism. Alkylamines were found to be weak inhibitors of farnesyl diphosphate synthase and caused accumulation of unprenylated Rap1A in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and macrophages, indicative of inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. Furthermore, as with N-BPs, the stimulatory effect of the alkylamines on Vγ9Vδ2T cells was abrogated by simultaneous treatment with mevastatin. These findings suggest that only pyrophosphomonoesters such as IPP are true Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell agonists, whereas alkylamines and N-BPs indirectly activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells through a common mechanism involving the accumulation of IPP.